Bottle lugger



R. SCHOLZ BOTTLE LUGGER May 7, 1946.

Filed June 8, 1944 Brwentor Patented May 7, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE LUGGER Rudolph Scholz, Dover, N. J. v Application .rune s, 1944serial N0. 539,229

3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a device for carrying or lugging by hand one or more articles of the nature of bottles, jars "andcans, and particularly to such a device that shallwbc especially useful to a householder in carrying, for example bottles of soft drinks, milk, and the like from a store to his home. f

. One object of the invention is to provide a device or lugger of the character described which shall embody novel and improved features of construction ,suchthatthe device can be easily and quickly set up for use toreceive the articles, or collapsedv or folded into compact, substantially at condition when not in use to permit convenient packing thereof in an automobile, shopping bag or thelike. Y Y Y Another object is to provide such a device that shall include a minimum numberof simple partswhich can be easily and quickly manipulated and `adjusted lrela-tively to each other to receive ara In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an article carrier embodying my invention, showingl a plurality of bottles therein in broken lines.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carrier showing the top member swung into a position to facilitate Vinsertion of the articles. into seats in the base member. i

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Specically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the article carrier or lugger includes a rigid base member I which may be formed of any suitable material, for example plywood, and which has on the top side thereof a plurality of seats 2 each to receive an article such as a bottle 3. Preferably the base member i's flat and the seats comprise sockets or recesses in the top surface of the base -member and they are of such a diameter as to receive the bottoms of the articles to be carried.

Cooperating with the base member I is a top member 4 which also preferably is rigid and formed of the same material as the base member l. While not necessary, itis desirable that the top member also be ilat,4 and it has a portion 5 corresponding to each seat 2 for receiving thetop portion of an article. As shown, these articlereceiving portions 5 constitute holes in the top member of such diameter as to freely receive the mouths and necks of the bottles 3, but obviously if articles such as cans are to be carried the articlereceiving portions 5 might be recesses in the underside of the top member similar .to the recesses 2 n the base member, to fit over and receive the top of the cans, jars or similar articles.

Means is provided for connecting the base memv ber and top member and for carrying them with one or more articles supported between them. As shown, this means comprisesltwo ilexible suspension members -6, one at each of opposite sides of the row ofseats 2 and holes orarticle receiving portions 5 in the base member and top member respectively. Each suspension member has one of the flexible suspension members to permit easy movement of thetop member into an out-of-the-way position for the insertion of ar ticles into the seat in the base member as shown in Figure 2. As shown, each of the openings 8 is in the form of a bayonet slot that opens through the corresponding edge of the top member so that the corresponding portion 1 of the respective suspension member 6 caribe slipped into `and out of the slot for connecting and disconnecting the top member to the suspension member, and when tension is applied to the suspension members, the portions l will be drawn into the inner ends of the corresponding slots to hold the top member against accidental disconnection from the suspension members.

The specific construction of the suspension members 6 may be as desired, but as shown, the suspension member at each side of the base member I is in the form of a loop Whose bight serves as a hand-hold as shown in Figure l. If desired, the ilexible portions l might be separate from each other and connected together by a rigid handle. In the specliic embodiment of the invention illustrated a single length of rope or cord is shown as threaded through holes 9 in the base member with a portion looped beneath the base member as indicated at I0, other portions forming the bights and flexible portions 'l of the suspension members 6 and the ends of the cord being secured as by staples Il to the underside of the base member. If desiredy cleats I2 may be secured to the bottom of the base member at opposite sides of the ends and the loop I of the cord to protect the cord against contact with the surfaces upon which the base member may be set. With this construction it will be observed that when the device is out of use, the top member may be laid flat on the base member with the flexible suspension members wrapped around them so as to form a compact, substantially flat ensemble which can be easily and conveniently packed into a small space such as the pocket of an automobile body, a shopping bag or the like. When it is desired to insert bottles or articles into the device, at least one suspension `member 6 will be disconnected from the top member so that the latter may be swung away :from the base member as shown in Figure 2 whereupon one or more articles may be set in one :or more `of the seats 2 of the base member. Then the top :mem-- ber may be slipped over the top o'f `the `articles or bottles with the latter projecting through the holes 5, after which the suspension members will be fitted into the slots '8 as shown in Figure l. The whole device and 'the articles therein can then be carried easily by igrasping l.the bights or hand-hold portions of the suspension membersI 6. It will be noted that even if only one suspension member is gripped there is no dangerof displacement of the articles from the device because the top member with the other suspension member will prevent tilting of the articies in the device.

The construction is simple, reliable, durable and relatively inexpensive, and while I have shown the invention embodied in certain details 0f oonstruction, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications 'and vchanges may be made in the construction of the' invention wit-hin the Ispirit and scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character describedcom-prising a rigid base member for supporting an article to be carried, a rigid top member having ra. portion to engage the top portion of said article, a exible loop at each'of two 'opposite edges -of said base member having its ends :connected to said base member at spaced points adjacent said edge and its bight serving as a hand-hold for carrying said base member, said top member having spaced openings adjacent two Aopposite edges thereof slidably receiving the portions of the corresponding said loop between the bight and said ends thereof, Vsaid openings adjacent "at least Aone edge of said top member being bayonet notches which open through said edge and have their inner end portions extending toward each other, whereby the exible loop at said one edge can be easily and quickly disconnected from the top member to permit the latter to'be moved into an out-of-the-way position for placing of articles on said base member and said top member is freely slidable along said portions of said loops and holds them in spaced relation between said base member and said top member,

2. A device of the character described comprising a rigid base member for supporting an article to be carried, a rigid top member having a portion to engage the top portion of said article, a iiexible loop at each of two opposite edges of said base member having its ends connected to said base member at .spaced points adjacent said edge and its bight serving as a hand-hold for carrying said base member, said top member having spaced openings adjacent two opposite edges thereof slidably receiving the portions of the .corresponding said loop between the bight and said ends thereof whereby said top member is .freely slidable along said portions of said .loops yand .holds them in spaced relation between lsaidbase Lmem ber and said top member, said flexible loops comprising a single piece of llexible material and said spaced points of connection of .said loops to said base member comprising holes .through which said piece is threaded, a portion of said 'piece being looped beneath l'said base member, other portions forming said bights :and 'the ends of said 'piece being secured to the underside of the base member.

3. A device of the character described comprising a rigid base .member for supportingan .article to be carried,va .rigid top .memberhaving aviportion to engage the top portion of said article, -a exible .loop at each of two opposite `edges of said base member having its ends connected to said base member at spaced points adjacent said edge and its bight vserving asa hand-hold for carry'- ing said base member, said top member having spaced openings adjacent two opposite edges thereof slidably receiving the portions Iof the corresponding said loop between the bight and said ends thereof, the points 'of connection of said loops to the base member being so lrelated to 'said two opposite edges of the top member that the portions of said loops between 'the top member and the base member when the latter .is being carried by the loop are approximately parallel to each other and perpendicular to the planes .of said top member and-said base member,

RUDoLPH SCHOLZ. 

